6 Makeup Mistakes And How To Fix Them (PHOTOS)

We all make mistakes. But some mistakes—like those you don't realize you're making—are worse than others, especially when you're making them on your face. Starting to wonder what makeup mishaps you're making?

Check out the six makeup mistakes you may be making and how to correct them:

Close



6 Makeup Mistakes And How To Fix Them

of





Skin is most people's best and largest feature. Foundation and/or concealer looks best when applied only where necessary.
First apply a light reflecting moisturizer like M.A.C Strobe Cream all over as it will help smooth out the skin's texture.
Second, apply "coverage" products like foundation or concealer to the vertical center 1/3 of the face and blend out.
Pay special attention to the concave hollows that may need a little extra coverage (inner corner of the eye, around the nose, etc). Most people don't need coverage on the outer 1/3 of their face.
Take down excessive shine or T-Zone hot spots with a powder such as M.A.C Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder. Apply only where necessary with a large fluffy eye shadow brush, like our #224 Tapered Blending Brush--not a big Powder brush as it covers too much skin territory.

Dehydrated/dry skin is usually a winter condition, but I see it all year. Glowing, plumped up and moisturized skin looks younger than dry and dehydrated skin.
To correct, use a face cloth or a skin exfoliant to shed off the dead layer of surface skin cells.
Second, apply M.A.C Fix + Spray to soften skin surface and allow better absorption of moisturizer.
Add an SPF Moisturizer and/or Strobe Cream (Strobe cream has excellent light reflecting properties). Add a few drops of M.A.C Studio Careblend Essential Oil if your skin is super dry or flaky. The added oil will seal in skin moisture.
Wear a tinted moisturizer. Don't wear heavy coverage foundation as it may accentuate dryness.
Skip powder as it's too dry. Instead use M.A.C Blot Film to absorb excess shine or oil.
Use Fix + Spray at the end of the application to add more humectants and glycerin.
Drink lots of water and cut out caffeine/alcoholic/sugary drinks.

Stop tanning, or you will regret it! UV radiation is the # 1 cause of premature aging.
If you've had a bit too much sun, do not wear foundation or powder as it may look dry and crusty. Instead go for tons of moisturizer or tinted moisturizer.

Most people look best wearing a concealer that is one shade lighter than their skin (or matching concealer) under their eyes. A warm undertone concealer will always brighten up the "grey shadow" under the eyes. M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20 is my favorite shade of concealer as I can apply it on SO many fair to mid skin tones.
A lighter shade under the eyes will reflect light and open up the center of the face and eyes.
Most East Indian skin tones should wear a warm shade of concealer one to two shades darker than their skin as a lighter colour may look too light and grey. A bit of depth in the concealer will help match and conceal the shadowed area...not highlight it.

To add volume and reflect light, I like to highlight the high planes of the face with frosted products.
Whether I am using a cream or a powdered frosted shade, I usually apply to the inner and centre of the eyelids and the high planes of the cheek and brow bones.
On the brow, only apply from the center out (or apex).
I also add highlights to the outer frame of the upper lip (for fullness) and for small noses to the center vertical line of the nose.
Where you don't add makeup is just as meaningful as where you add it. By only wearing frosted shades on certain planes of the face and features, it will be more impactful and modern than applying it all over.

Fuller, natural looking brows are right on trend for 2012.
For thin eyebrows (or brows that were ruined by excessive tweezing), simply fill in the desired arched shape with either a brow pencil and/or a hair colored eye shadow.
Set with a M.A.C Brow Set.
I like to reference historical beauty icons such as Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe when I am envisioning a classic shape.

1. Wearing too much foundation and powder: You may be covering up and dulling great looking skin.
Skin is most people’s best and largest feature. Foundation and/or concealer looks best when applied only where necessary.
• First apply a light reflecting moisturizer like M.A.C Strobe Cream all over as it will help smooth out the skin’s texture.
• Second, apply “coverage” products like foundation or concealer to the vertical center 1/3 of the face and blend out.
• Pay special attention to the concave hollows that may need a little extra coverage (inner corner of the eye, around the nose, etc). Most people don’t need coverage on the outer 1/3 of their face.
• Take down excessive shine or T-Zone hot spots with a powder such as M.A.C Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder. Apply only where necessary with a large fluffy eye shadow brush, like our #224 Tapered Blending Brush—not a big Powder brush as it covers too much skin territory.

2. Correcting overly dry/dehydrated skin caused by not enough water and too much caffeine consumption: This can further dehydrate your skin.
Dehydrated/dry skin is usually a winter condition, but I see it all year. Glowing, plumped up and moisturized skin looks younger than dry and dehydrated skin.
• To correct, use a face cloth or a skin exfoliant to shed off the dead layer of surface skin cells.
• Second, apply M.A.C Fix + Spray to soften skin surface and allow better absorption of moisturizer.
• Add an SPF Moisturizer and/or Strobe Cream (Strobe cream has excellent light reflecting properties). Add a few drops of M.A.C Studio Careblend Essential Oil if your skin is super dry or flaky. The added oil will seal in skin moisture.
• Wear a tinted moisturizer. Don’t wear heavy coverage foundation as it may accentuate dryness.
• Skip powder as it’s too dry. Instead use M.A.C Blot Film to absorb excess shine or oil.
• Use Fix + Spray at the end of the application to add more humectants and glycerin.
• Drink lots of water and cut out caffeine/alcoholic/sugary drinks.3. Tanning
Stop tanning, or you will regret it! UV radiation is the # 1 cause of premature aging.
• If you’ve had a bit too much sun, do not wear foundation or powder as it may look dry and crusty. Instead go for tons of moisturizer or tinted moisturizer.

4. Using a concealer shade that is too light: This looks ridiculous and raccoon like.
Most people look best wearing a concealer that is one shade lighter than their skin (or matching concealer) under their eyes. A warm undertone concealer will always brighten up the “grey shadow” under the eyes. M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20 is my favorite shade of concealer as I can apply it on SO many fair to mid skin tones.
• A lighter shade under the eyes will reflect light and open up the center of the face and eyes.
• Most East Indian skin tones should wear a warm shade of concealer one to two shades darker than their skin as a lighter colour may look too light and grey. A bit of depth in the concealer will help match and conceal the shadowed area…not highlight it.

5. Trying to give skin a modern glow but applying too much frost and ending up looking overly shiny.
To add volume and reflect light, I like to highlight the high planes of the face with frosted products.
• Whether I am using a cream or a powdered frosted shade, I usually apply to the inner and centre of the eyelids and the high planes of the cheek and brow bones.
• On the brow, only apply from the center out (or apex).
• I also add highlights to the outer frame of the upper lip (for fullness) and for small noses to the center vertical line of the nose.
Where you don’t add makeup is just as meaningful as where you add it. By only wearing frosted shades on certain planes of the face and features, it will be more impactful and modern than applying it all over.

6. Eyebrows that are tweezed to a tadpole shape or are too thin for the face.
Fuller, natural looking brows are right on trend for 2012.
• For thin eyebrows (or brows that were ruined by excessive tweezing), simply fill in the desired arched shape with either a brow pencil and/or a hair colored eye shadow.
• Set with a M.A.C Brow Set.
• I like to reference historical beauty icons such as Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe when I am envisioning a classic shape.